Historic (4)
I'd been planning to pitch both games of the doubleheader from the very start.
“You sure you're okay with this?”
“Yeah.”
Of course, I couldn't decide to take the mound all by myself, so I asked Manager Jeong Hyeonho.
“Yuha's volunteering to do it himself?”
“Yeah. What do you think, Coach Kim?”
“If Yuha's up for it...”
Manager Jeong Hyeonho left the finer details of pitcher management to Pitching Coach Kim Pilsun, as always.
“Jin Yuha wants to pitch both games of the doubleheader?”
“Yeah. It's not like our bullpen guys haven't done it before.”
“That's a bit different, but... hmm, no problem, I guess.”
“For real?”
“Yes. It's Jin Yuha. His physical abilities are honestly on another level—hard to even comprehend. He's a research subject at this point.”
Manager Jeong Hyeonho and Coach Kim Pilsun checked with the team medical staff to confirm it was actually feasible.
And just like that, my doubleheader double-start was set. It stayed a secret shared by just a handful of us, me included.
The reason? Pretty simple.
“'Cause it's fun.”
That was Manager Jeong Hyeonho's style. And I wasn't exactly in a position to complain.
I mean.
“Right? It's fun.”
My decision to pitch both games was for the fun of it, too.
“Well... if Yuha takes the mound in Game 2, there are advantages all around.”
For example.
“No denying he's more reliable than our bullpen.”
And on top of that.
“Just seeing Yuha in the pen puts massive pressure on the opponents. So they'll rush at the plate, and if they're rushing...”
“They won't get good results.”
Of course.
“Yuha, that's only if you conserve pitches in Game 1 and stay fresh for Game 2.”
“If it looks impossible, I'll bail. I care about my stats, too.”
Not that it would come to that.
Top of the 7th.
James Gilbert escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam with a double play and wrapped up his outing.
Final line: 7 innings, 1 run. True major league stuff.
“Hmm? Our ace is MIA.”
Flashing a satisfied smile at his line, James Gilbert soon noticed I wasn't in the dugout.
“Oh, Yuha's in the bullpen right now.”
The answer came from Kang Gihoo, our DH who was chilling in the dugout during his defensive half-inning. He'd started learning English lately and, surprisingly gifted with languages, could chat with the foreign players without an interpreter—clunky, but functional.
“The bullpen? Why suddenly?”
“Dunno.”
Even Kang Gihoo didn't have a real answer.
“...No way.”
James Gilbert seemed to guess something, his mouth dropping open in mild shock.
'Guess aces just vibe on the same wavelength. Ace intuition or something?'
Right then.
“Ugh... what the hell is this?”
Jeong Hanseong, mitt still on, trudged into the dugout with a sigh.
“Huh? Hanseong, you subbing in? Park Cheongwon hyung feeling off?”
“Nah. Just came back from catching Yuha.”
“...Why's Yuha throwing?”
“Yep.”
James Gilbert nodded knowingly, but Kang Gihoo was totally lost.
“When's Yuha pitching? Ninth?”
“Probably.”
He couldn't even imagine it.
Bottom of the 7th.
“Whoa, why's everyone staring like that?”
I'd warmed up in the pen and returned to the dugout, only to find the team gawking at me.
“You're really going in for the ninth?”
Ah.
“Hanseong spilled, huh.”
Always knew the guy had a big mouth.
“You sure? Not overdoing it?”
“I'm good. Medical team's cleared it.”
I took the seniors' concern in stride. Being the beloved junior's what it's all about.
“Sigh... still, better pad the lead. Less pressure on Yuha.”
Hmm. Honestly.
“We could coast like this, but...”
Since I'm closing anyway, grabbing a save would be fun.
“No way! Hold up, Yuha! I stunk in the first game, but I'm feeling it now!”
Couldn't say that in front of Baek Jihun hyung, all fired up.
'Gotta let hyung get a hit at least...'
Bottom of the 7th.
Crack!!
“Ball!”
No. 6 hitter Jeon Galhoon walked.
Thwack!!
No. 7 Kim Taeyong laid down a perfect sac bunt.
One out, runner to second.
At the plate: No. 8 Yoon Daeyoung.
He'd finally gotten a shot in the majors after ages, but Max Taylor had shut him down cold—no results.
Thwack!!
This at-bat was no different. He chased a setup pitch with a sloppy swing.
Still, true to his power-hitting prospect rep, he got it out to the outfield.
Pat pat.
Advancing the runner to third? Positive spin.
And.
“Phew... I got this.”
No. 9 Baek Jihun's turn.
“Why so intense, hyung?”
Gu Dohwan tossed the question half to disrupt focus, half out of genuine curiosity.
“Gotta get it done for Yuha.”
“...Yuha? What's he got to do with it?”
Something felt off, but Gu Dohwan couldn't hold back.
“He's closing the ninth. Gotta give him a cushion.”
He heard what he shouldn't have.
'Hyung wasn't bullshitting...?'
Gu Dohwan panicked.
“...”
“Catcher, you focused?”
Too rattled to call a sign.
“S-sorry.”
Hearing the guy who'd perfected them for five innings was closing? Natural reaction.
'Focus. He's not the type to lie about this, but right now, that's not the point.'
Tap tap.
He pulled it together, but rattled, he messed up.
Calling a four-seam high in the zone—Baek Jihun's sweet spot.
Overlooking that Baek Jihun's contact quality hadn't been that bad today, no hits notwithstanding.
Thwack!!
And underestimating Baek Jihun's resolve.
Whoosh.
Baek Jihun fouled the first pitch light, then flipped the bat with flair.
'Oh no...'
Not a homer, obviously.
“Safe!”
But plenty to plate the run.
Crack!!
“Strike three!”
The camera panned to the Titans bullpen as the announcers wrapped up.
Crack!! Crack!!
Analyst Kim Chungshik trailed off.
Because.
'It's Jin Yuha on the mound.'
Even he—who rarely hyped young players, especially pitchers—had to concede this one.
Kim Chungshik held judgment.
Top of the 9th.
Thud thud! Clap! Thud thud! Clap!
If you'd watched KBO this season, you'd never forget the entrance song blaring.
Whoaaaa!!
Home fans roaring, clapping, stomping.
Step step.
I climbed the mound. For my first career save. To clinch the Titans' regular season title.
'So this is what it feels like closing.'
Some closers brag about the pressure, all superiority complex.
'Not that big a deal.'
Guess my old teammates were full of it.
'Makes sense...'
A closer's still bullpen. Comparing to starters? Only for god-tier ones.
Tap tap.
Jeong Hanseong tapped the PitchCom.
- Four-seam
My outings always start with the four-seam.
Crack!!
“Strike!”
Planted the first pitch easy in the zone.
'Velocity...'
- 158 km/h
Meh speed. Batter might think I'm off.
Tap tap.
'In that case...'
Crack!!
“Strike!”
- 164 km/h
Time to set 'em straight. I'm fine.
Tap tap.
Batter sets. Sign comes. Synced great with Park Cheongwon hyung, but best with my guy.
Whoosh!!
Low and away heater.
Buzz!!
Batter behind, flails weakly.
Crack!!
“Swinging strike three!”
Glove eats it, bat whiffs.
- 152 km/h
Splitter.
'Today's the day.'
Titans clinch the title.
Crack!!
“Strike three!”
Crack!!
“Strike!”
Beep! Beep! Beep!
The regular season was over.
Postseason started.